Quote from Tony Robles on ABR

The ABR is the single most important and exciting pool related project that has been put into action for many years! :thumbup:

I am a superstitious man; and if some unlucky accident should befall the ABR or if it were to fade away without trace or if they were to shut down due to negative or lack of pool aficionado listeners. Or if they struck by a bolt of lightning..!

Then I'm going to blame some of the people in this forum and that I do not forgive.

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ok, all this chatter has forced me to catch-up @ THU night's events. (cause someone didn't give me a wakeup call) i'm 20 minutes in.

and might i say, Mr. Bond - you hit it on the head!
 
The movie "The Hustler" did more for pool than anything else in the history of pool IMO. It inspired more people to play than can be imagined. We can debate the problems with pool but there's enough blame to go around for everything.

With stars like Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason in The Hustler it had to help make more people aware of pool. The gambling side of the movie may turn some folks off, but overall I think it helped pool. Tony is a pro and naturally people would ask someone who plays at his level if he's a hustler because there aren't too many who could play his level other than other pros and some guys who aren't in the limelight who play pro speed.
 
In my mind gambling is throwing dice down a crap table or spinning a roulette wheel. No one is putting a guilt trip on Steve Wynn or Sheldon Adelson. Folks go out to Vegas and lose there ass and don't call Mr. Wynn a hustler. In my room there is very little hustling going on. The players all know each other and have each other's games clocked. This is not gambling it is playing for money; pool is a game of skill. In Vegas there is no negotiation. In pool you get to make up the game, if you don't get the game you like then you don't have to play. What could be more fair than that? This is way more fair than tournament play. I go to the Reno Open and I play SVB even. What chance do I have? Answer none, but I have all the expense of getting there hotel, meals etc..

Go out on a golf course and there is plenty of wagering. One of the reasons pro pool has problems is the tour sued it's corporate sponsor. I don't have all the facts but this was a very dumb decision in my mind. If you want bigger purses in pool then you have to sell items such as beer etc.. Why pool which is played in bars can't get a major brewer behind it is beyond me.
 
In my mind gambling is throwing dice down a crap table or spinning a roulette wheel. No one is putting a guilt trip on Steve Wynn or Sheldon Adelson. Folks go out to Vegas and lose there ass and don't call Mr. Wynn a hustler. In my room there is very little hustling going on. The players all know each other and have each other's games clocked. This is not gambling it is playing for money; pool is a game of skill. In Vegas there is no negotiation. In pool you get to make up the game, if you don't get the game you like then you don't have to play. What could be more fair than that? This is way more fair than tournament play. I go to the Reno Open and I play SVB even. What chance do I have? Answer none, but I have all the expense of getting there hotel, meals etc..

Go out on a golf course and there is plenty of wagering. One of the reasons pro pool has problems is the tour sued it's corporate sponsor. I don't have all the facts but this was a very dumb decision in my mind. If you want bigger purses in pool then you have to sell items such as beer etc.. Why pool which is played in bars can't get a major brewer behind it is beyond me.

"Why pool which is played in bars can't get a major brewer behind it is beyond me."

I have never understood that either. It seems like a no brainer. Johnnyt
 
Holy forum wars batman....try to get 8 hours of shut-eye and look what happens lol

For those of you posting logical and supportive statements - Thank You, very much.
Believe me when I say that it has not gone un-noticed or unappreciated.

To Itsfroze: I really should have let Pete deal with this, but it's cool, I don't think your "concerns" are too far fetched, but I do think that perhaps you should try to see things from a perspective other than your own. And maybe, just maybe, I can help you with that.

First, I will happily point out that your dissatisfaction is not the popular consensus. Our audience has steadily grown every single week, and by leaps and bounds no less. (and not just in the U.S.) Does everyone love it? I highly doubt it. Will everyone love it? Not only do I highly doubt it, I actually expect that some people will hate it, and me, and Mike, and Mark, and Alison etc. Such is life, and I will not lose one wink of sleep over it.

Now that's not to say that we don't care who likes it and who doesn't, we just know that its impossible to please everyone, so we will continue to try hard, with the understanding that we can only do so much for people like yourself, who have made up their mind that it's not something they enjoy.

By the way, while I'm thinking about it, you can always go check out the other pool related shows out there to see if they're doing a better job. Let me know if you find one that you like and maybe we can emulate their successful methods.

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As for the hard-hitting questions that you desire so much, I have a hard - hitting question for you sir: Why are you too scared to ask them yourself? Anyone can call up Rob, or Ivan, or Shane, or Mark, or Barry, or Larry and fire away...so...why haven't you? Why don't you flex your superior investigative skills and get us THE REAL scoop?

Better yet, I will make you a very special offer: Pick anyone you want, set up a phone interview, and I will record the whole thing and put it on our show. Feel free to show us all how to handle the 'tough questions' and how a "real" interview should be done. The ball is in your court Mr. Man.

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While you are digesting my offer, here is something else to consider: It is not our ultimate goal to highlight disagreements and unrest in the industry. Yes there are unpleasant situations that have been and will be addressed to some extent, but generally speaking we prefer to highlight positivity and not the opposite. Perhaps we don't like bytchin, moaning, and bashing people? Or perhaps, I would like to keep the respect that these guests have for me and our show, rather than having them hate us for putting them on the spot in the public eye. It's called tact.

There is a time and place for everything, and our show is not the time nor place to listen to someone get cornered and ostracized for answering a question the wrong way. Its not good business and its certainly not something that we want to put out in front of the general public when this industry needs as much help as it can get. In other words, ABR is not and never will be a grocery store tabloid or bird cage liner. If that's a let down for you, then I suppose you'll just have to be let down.

Thanks for listening.
 
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Why pool which is played in bars can't get a major brewer behind it is beyond me.

I agree.. and actually, with the craft beer market exploding right now, its interesting that none of them have stepped up to take advantage of our demographic.

The good news is, I am actually talking with a few of them currently about this very thing. We'll see what happens ;)
 
"Why pool which is played in bars can't get a major brewer behind it is beyond me."

I have never understood that either. It seems like a no brainer. Johnnyt

The Miller Lite tournaments in the 80's were fantastic: good prize money, travel expenses, finals in Vegas for over 350 players, 57,000 local participants, great officiating, professional equipment, fun qualifying tournaments, etc.

Why did they stop???
 
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I don't think you can or should try to hit a home run with every question
but I keep listening thinking maybe you'll hit a bloop single.

No thanks is the answer to your generous offer, did you ever think of
perhaps a call in segment where people could ask a question of one of
your guests?

Not a back and forth thing, just they could ask a question and that's it.
Then the answer is whatever it is.

Believe it or not I wish you and your show good luck and still plan to listen.
 
Dave...The real truth is that MANY major beer companies have dipped their toe in the water with AMATEUR pool. The APA has had a major beer sponsor, as part of their league for decades. The others tried it for a few years, and then got out (I expect they weren't getting back what they expected from the money they put in). Professional pool has never had any kind of alcohol sponsor, with the exception of the WPBA, who had Gordon's Gin for a year, and Canadian Club, which did a promotion with Jeanette Lee. Both of these were several years ago. The only real corporate sponsorship mens pro pool had was with Big Tobacco, and they invested pretty heavily for 3 years, and then dropped out.

The lawsuit against RJ Reynolds was after they quit pro pool, and was a total debacle for the pro players, due to the PBT commissioner Don Mackey heading up the lawsuit, and stealing ALL of the $800K+ that he won from the suit. You can be sure that finished it for participation from big companies like them. On top of that, more importantly, imo, Congress killed that golden goose when they passed laws making advertising tobacco products connected with sporting events illegal. So there is plenty of blame to pass around, but to say that beer companies haven't had their day with pool is incorrect. The beer companies continue to be associated with amateur pool leagues, and that's not going to change.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I agree.. and actually, with the craft beer market exploding right now, its interesting that none of them have stepped up to take advantage of our demographic.

The good news is, I am actually talking with a few of them currently about this very thing. We'll see what happens ;)
 
I don't think you can or should try to hit a home run with every question
but I keep listening thinking maybe you'll hit a bloop single.

No thanks is the answer to your generous offer, did you ever think of
perhaps a call in segment where people could ask a question of one of
your guests?

Not a back and forth thing, just they could ask a question and that's it.
Then the answer is whatever it is.

Believe it or not I wish you and your show good luck and still plan to listen.


Thank You for the well wishes, and for your passion.
Yes we have considered, and actually would be happy to field questions from our listeners, whenever possible and/or appropriate.

As a matter of fact, on our website's contact page you will see this:

---------------------------------------
Got something to say?
Want to share your opinion about something you heard on the show?

Call our Comment Line and let er' rip.....we just might use it on the next show.

Dial - 26 RACK EM UP ( 267 ) 225 3687

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Blow it up brothaman :)


PS: You are also free to contact any or all of our segment hosts and speak with them directly about topics that youd like to see being addressed.
 
Ok, where to start? ITSFROZE, I really hear what you are saying and maybe as we all move along and the timing is right I am sure that you will hear a few GOTCHA questions. This is not really the intent of the show in general and certainly not my little segment but depending on the situation etc it may just happen.

Please remember we have only done a few shows to this point and some of us are still in a learning curve an doing the best we can to bring exciting, fun and informative guests to the show and give either good commentary or just things to think about. Doing a radio show isn't a hanger going solo or with a guest. Scott Lee's segment is only a short one but I can't imagine how difficult it must be to give good informative tip that will appeal to the masses on the radio where you obviously cannot see what they are talking about and so has to be described in such a fashion that you can understand. Scott probably has experience with phone lessons but still not an easy job and I am sure just like the rest of us or some of us will only get better as we do more of these shows. So hopefully as we all find our actual place within the shows someone will morph into someone who can fill any type of void that is missing and make as many people happy as possible. However as Mr Bond said it's impossible to please everyone.

I/we all appreciate the people who have been tuning in to this point and the great feedback both positive and negative we have had so far. We can't get better without knowing what could be done better. Maybe the initial approach from ITSFROZE could have been worded a little better and not so much of an attack that put some on defense. No worries though and I will be talking to Luke Riches of Matchroom Sport next week and looking forward to it. I posted thread asking for questions people may want to know so I opened the door a little. Of course it is important to be respectful to our guests so please bare that in mind. Sorry for the rambling.
 
Tap, tap, tap, Mark! It is a learning experience, and fun to be part of. We're just scratching the surface. Between Randy, myself, and several of our other PBIA instructors, we've got enough One Minute Pool Instructor tips to last for 10 years! LOL We also plan to take questions from listeners, at some point...kind of like the "Ask a pro" columns in some of the pool mags. :grin:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

Ok, where to start? ITSFROZE, I really hear what you are saying and maybe as we all move along and the timing is right I am sure that you will hear a few GOTCHA questions. This is not really the intent of the show in general and certainly not my little segment but depending on the situation etc it may just happen.

Please remember we have only done a few shows to this point and some of us are still in a learning curve an doing the best we can to bring exciting, fun and informative guests to the show and give either good commentary or just things to think about. Doing a radio show isn't a hanger going solo or with a guest. Scott Lee's segment is only a short one but I can't imagine how difficult it must be to give good informative tip that will appeal to the masses on the radio where you obviously cannot see what they are talking about and so has to be described in such a fashion that you can understand. Scott probably has experience with phone lessons but still not an easy job and I am sure just like the rest of us or some of us will only get better as we do more of these shows. So hopefully as we all find our actual place within the shows someone will morph into someone who can fill any type of void that is missing and make as many people happy as possible. However as Mr Bond said it's impossible to please everyone.

I/we all appreciate the people who have been tuning in to this point and the great feedback both positive and negative we have had so far. We can't get better without knowing what could be done better. Maybe the initial approach from ITSFROZE could have been worded a little better and not so much of an attack that put some on defense. No worries though and I will be talking to Luke Riches of Matchroom Sport next week and looking forward to it. I posted thread asking for questions people may want to know so I opened the door a little. Of course it is important to be respectful to our guests so please bare that in mind. Sorry for the rambling.
 
Mark thanks, I could have worded it better you are right there. I am passionate about
pool and do, no doubt get wound up when in the middle of a thought sometimes. :D

I have already left you a question in your thread for Luke Riches and it's short and respectful.
Thank You!
 
Great posts bflad and Mr Bond. The guests ABR somehow attracts is a who's who. And you guys get better and better every week! :thumbup:

For those that may have missed it - you can listen to any and all shows anytime. And with pause, play and scroll bar features. www.americanbilliardradio.com
 
I think of pool as a game of skill and a chance to be in a social event where everyone is equal. I am in a Tuesday afternoon senior league in Connecticut which draws over 50 players each week. And some of the best shooters i have ever come across. We have a probate judge, Dentist, Doctors, CEO's and all thats important is your skill level in pool, not how much you have in the bank. Anyone who thinks the game of pool attracts shady people is wrong. It is a beautiful game of skill and a player is a lifelong student of the game. Larry, AKA N.Y. Larry
 
Larry...Your last two sentences are a contradiction. It is a beautiful game of skill, and like you, I am also a lifelong student (and instructor). That said, pool attracts MANY shady characters, looking for a chance to hustle someone out of a few bucks. You will find several of them in Louisville KY at this moment...but you'll NEVER see them at a senior center! LOL

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I think of pool as a game of skill and a chance to be in a social event where everyone is equal. I am in a Tuesday afternoon senior league in Connecticut which draws over 50 players each week. And some of the best shooters i have ever come across. We have a probate judge, Dentist, Doctors, CEO's and all thats important is your skill level in pool, not how much you have in the bank. Anyone who thinks the game of pool attracts shady people is wrong. It is a beautiful game of skill and a player is a lifelong student of the game. Larry, AKA N.Y. Larry
 
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